TIJUANA.- During a press conference, the Deputy Secretary of the State's Tourism Department, Ives Gabriel Lelevier Ramos, explained that the first phase of Rosarito's Underwater Park will begin with the sinking of Mexican navy boat, Uribe 121, this coming Saturday, November 21, which is part of an effort to diversify the tourism offer and boost options for tourists.
"It's a project that aims at strengthening all the actions we've taken in the current state administration, we've worked closely with the Baja California Divers Association (Asociación de Buzos de Baja California in Spanish) to make this project a reality and that will bring more visitors, generate more jobs and of course, bring more economic development for the region's residents", said Lelevier.
He assured the project to be an explosion of tourism activity not only for Rosarito Beach, but the whole state, it will have multiple sections that will make it a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction in the world, since they're planning a ship graveyard, marine sculptures, a section honoring Atlantis and a reef museum.
Lelevier Ramos pointed out that work is being done to put Baja California on the national and international map as a tourist destination that offers different activities to do in each of its municipalities, were Rosarito Beach would be an interest place to visit for the more than 20 million certified divers in the world, of which at least two live in California.
"For the lovers of this activity who are always looking for new places to explore, Rosarito Beach, without a doubt, will be a great option will all of the complementary activities that they can do, like the Wine Route", he noted.
PHOTO: Secretary of Tourism
The head of the Baja California Artificial Reefs Foundation (Fundación Arrecifes Artificiales de Baja California in Spanish), Francisco Ussel, said the sinking of Navy boat Uribe 121 will take place on November 21 on the coast in front of "Los Arenales" in the Primo Tapia area in Rosarito Beach.
He mentioned that the boat was donated by the Mexican Navy, it's a 70 meter long boat, it will be the first of four vessels planned to be sank in order to create a first world artificial reef that will be on the same level as others that are already internationally renowned.
The Navy will be taking care of the sinking, as well as towing the vessel from the Ensenada seaport, which means it'll be a spectacular event where all of the three government branches will be in attendance.
"We are one week away from having this project become a reality, the Foundation has been working on it for 8 years now, with the help of the private sector as well as the local and state government investing resources with the goal of achieving this new one-of-a-kind tourist and scientific attraction in Mexico.", he detailed.
He also said that the Tijuana-San Diego region has more than 2 million registered divers and at least a hundred thousand are expected to come visit within the first year, generating an economical influx of almost 35 million pesos to the tourism sector.
Once the sinking is done, exploration of the vessel will be possible the next day, it'll be around 29 meters deep and it'll only be available to divers certified by the multiple international organizations, Ussel specified.
The head of the Baja California Artificial Reefs Foundation explained that the artificial reefs serve not only as a tourist attraction but as a scientific laboratory, where climate change, currents, tides and organism movements can be studied and measured, plus recreational diving activities.
Raúl Aragón Castro, head of the Planning Institute of Rosarito Beach's local government, added that so far the combined investment for the project from state authorities and the private sector is of 9 million pesos, as well as the possibility of generation an additional 1 million dollars due to diving activities around the artificial reef.
*Secretary of Tourism newsletter
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Translated by: edgar.martinez@sandiegored.com
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